Damn. That's pretty solid. Off the top of my head, since you are including some old timers like Ruth, I might have to do Gehrig and Musial at first, and that's really tough to drop Pujols. I could be persuaded to keep Pujols, but Cabrera is out, so either Gehrig and Musial or Gehrig and Pujols.
For Shortstop, Ozzie Smith was great with the glove, and that is VERY important at that position, but Jeter was serviceable enough in the field, and his offensive numbers are too great, so I'd take Jeter over Smith.
Really kind of nitpicking though at this point. Also, it's tough to know where to put Pete Rose. If he's at third, I would take him over Brett.
I don’t get the obsession over this comment from the charlatan Pete Rose about needing a good second baseman to build a team. Here is a list of infielders taken first overall in the 50+ year history of the MLB draft:
SS: 12
Catcher: 8
3B: 5
1B: 2
2B: 0
It's not a perfect example but gives you a sense for what actual baseball evaluators value. It’s also why I think my picks (Mays, Bonds, Clemens) which mostly looked at career WAR might be undervaluing SS and catcher somewhat.
I think the comment has merit. His point is that most of the other positions typically have decent offensive output (and he didn't care if SS didn't), but if you have good offensive players at 2nd AND catcher, you have the makings of a good team. I see evidence to support that idea. It's not an "obsession." It's a philosophy that I am employing for the purpose of the discussion in this thread.
Your picks include two cheaters. I don't pick cheaters.
I suppose I’m trying to point out that this offhanded comment from Pete Rose does not seem to have merit when you consider it in the context of what actual baseball talent evaluators seem to value. (I tend to think very little that comes out of Pete Rose’s mouth is sincere or has merit.)
The steroid guys are not really relevant to that point, and I offer several alternatives to Bonds and Clemens in my thought process back on page 6. I was more trying to highlight that maybe I undervalued catcher in that thought process.
sadly, a great great choice would be Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey, Arod.
-an absolute work horse all time great starting pitcher that would dominate in any era, win 4-5 cy youngs and could pitch well into his late 30s, throw a ton of innings, and was generally injury free (no major major issues like Degrom etc).
-One of the greatest CF of all time. Getting 19 year old to 29 year old Ken Griffey is basically as good of a baseball player that you can get period (especially when you add in defensive prowess)
-best hitting SS of all time in a position with not a lot of truly elite sluggers. hits for power, average, steals, decent defense, a perennial MVP candidate
Sadly the mariners had all 3 and they never made a world series and threw it all away. sobering to realize a team actually had a legit answer to this question and still fell short..
sadly, a great great choice would be Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey, Arod.
-an absolute work horse all time great starting pitcher that would dominate in any era, win 4-5 cy youngs and could pitch well into his late 30s, throw a ton of innings, and was generally injury free (no major major issues like Degrom etc).
-One of the greatest CF of all time. Getting 19 year old to 29 year old Ken Griffey is basically as good of a baseball player that you can get period (especially when you add in defensive prowess)
-best hitting SS of all time in a position with not a lot of truly elite sluggers. hits for power, average, steals, decent defense, a perennial MVP candidate
Sadly the mariners had all 3 and they never made a world series and threw it all away. sobering to realize a team actually had a legit answer to this question and still fell short..
I don’t get the obsession over this comment from the charlatan Pete Rose about needing a good second baseman to build a team. Here is a list of infielders taken first overall in the 50+ year history of the MLB draft:
SS: 12
Catcher: 8
3B: 5
1B: 2
2B: 0
It's not a perfect example but gives you a sense for what actual baseball evaluators value. It’s also why I think my picks (Mays, Bonds, Clemens) which mostly looked at career WAR might be undervaluing SS and catcher somewhat.
Your picks include two cheaters. I don't pick cheaters.
Johnny Bench used to talk about how he'd scuff the ball with his shinguards before throwing it back to the pitcher.
sadly, a great great choice would be Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey, Arod.
-an absolute work horse all time great starting pitcher that would dominate in any era, win 4-5 cy youngs and could pitch well into his late 30s, throw a ton of innings, and was generally injury free (no major major issues like Degrom etc).
-One of the greatest CF of all time. Getting 19 year old to 29 year old Ken Griffey is basically as good of a baseball player that you can get period (especially when you add in defensive prowess)
-best hitting SS of all time in a position with not a lot of truly elite sluggers. hits for power, average, steals, decent defense, a perennial MVP candidate
Sadly the mariners had all 3 and they never made a world series and threw it all away. sobering to realize a team actually had a legit answer to this question and still fell short..
Look at the current Padres squad. They have 3 superstars ... Machado, Soto and Tatis. Unfortunately, Tatis is out and Soto has 1 HR and 3 RBIs in 40 ABs. Big time underachievers.
1. Easy choice -Willy Mays - gives you every tool in the book, to include defense up the middle.
2. Need an ace, hard choice here - I'm going to go with Nolan Ryan, the most unhittable pitcher ever, also one of the most durable. I'm rolling the dice that we can teach him a little control at 20, which didn't realy hold the first time!
3. Could go many ways here, but I want to complement the above. -Pete Rose - All time hit king and led two teams to WS titles.
1. Easy choice -Willy Mays - gives you every tool in the book, to include defense up the middle.
2. Need an ace, hard choice here - I'm going to go with Nolan Ryan, the most unhittable pitcher ever, also one of the most durable. I'm rolling the dice that we can teach him a little control at 20, which didn't realy hold the first time!
3. Could go many ways here, but I want to complement the above. -Pete Rose - All time hit king and led two teams to WS titles.
Ryan is the most unhittable pitcher? Are you aware that his winning % was .52%. That is just about as mediocre as it gets. He won 324 games - Yippee! - but also lost 292 games. Do you really want a .500 pitcher as the ace of your staff?
1. Easy choice -Willy Mays - gives you every tool in the book, to include defense up the middle.
2. Need an ace, hard choice here - I'm going to go with Nolan Ryan, the most unhittable pitcher ever, also one of the most durable. I'm rolling the dice that we can teach him a little control at 20, which didn't realy hold the first time!
3. Could go many ways here, but I want to complement the above. -Pete Rose - All time hit king and led two teams to WS titles.
Ryan is the most unhittable pitcher? Are you aware that his winning % was .52%. That is just about as mediocre as it gets. He won 324 games - Yippee! - but also lost 292 games. Do you really want a .500 pitcher as the ace of your staff?
It's not even close - hits per 9 innings all time: Nolan didn't play on very good baseball teams and he had control issues (which I reference), this brought his winning percentage down. He was absolutely the most unhittable pitch all time, and he did it for 25 years. Oh and he threw 7 no-hitters, the next highest? Koufax with 4. So he's almost double the next guy. Barbie, go back to playing with Ken, The men are talking here.
Ryan is the most unhittable pitcher? Are you aware that his winning % was .52%. That is just about as mediocre as it gets. He won 324 games - Yippee! - but also lost 292 games. Do you really want a .500 pitcher as the ace of your staff?
It's not even close - hits per 9 innings all time: Nolan didn't play on very good baseball teams and he had control issues (which I reference), this brought his winning percentage down. He was absolutely the most unhittable pitch all time, and he did it for 25 years. Oh and he threw 7 no-hitters, the next highest? Koufax with 4. So he's almost double the next guy. Barbie, go back to playing with Ken, The men are talking here.
Ryan is the most unhittable pitcher? Are you aware that his winning % was .52%. That is just about as mediocre as it gets. He won 324 games - Yippee! - but also lost 292 games. Do you really want a .500 pitcher as the ace of your staff?
It's not even close - hits per 9 innings all time: Nolan didn't play on very good baseball teams and he had control issues (which I reference), this brought his winning percentage down. He was absolutely the most unhittable pitch all time, and he did it for 25 years. Oh and he threw 7 no-hitters, the next highest? Koufax with 4. So he's almost double the next guy. Barbie, go back to playing with Ken, The men are talking here.
Yeah, if you're going to pick a starting pitcher, it's hard to not pick Nolan Ryan. As you said, he was on a lot of bad teams which kept his winning percentage down. He still managed to get 324 wins and had those 7 no-hitters. The longevity is a plus in his favor.
Ryan is the most unhittable pitcher? Are you aware that his winning % was .52%. That is just about as mediocre as it gets. He won 324 games - Yippee! - but also lost 292 games. Do you really want a .500 pitcher as the ace of your staff?
It's not even close - hits per 9 innings all time: Nolan didn't play on very good baseball teams and he had control issues (which I reference), this brought his winning percentage down. He was absolutely the most unhittable pitch all time, and he did it for 25 years. Oh and he threw 7 no-hitters, the next highest? Koufax with 4. So he's almost double the next guy. Barbie, go back to playing with Ken, The men are talking here.
It's not even close - hits per 9 innings all time: Nolan didn't play on very good baseball teams and he had control issues (which I reference), this brought his winning percentage down. He was absolutely the most unhittable pitch all time, and he did it for 25 years. Oh and he threw 7 no-hitters, the next highest? Koufax with 4. So he's almost double the next guy. Barbie, go back to playing with Ken, The men are talking here.
Yeah, if you're going to pick a starting pitcher, it's hard to not pick Nolan Ryan. As you said, he was on a lot of bad teams which kept his winning percentage down. He still managed to get 324 wins and had those 7 no-hitters. The longevity is a plus in his favor.
You mention his 324 wins but not his 292 losses. Christy Mathewson is not losing 292times. Ryan had no-hitters but nothing else. 292 losses. Terrible stat.
Yeah, if you're going to pick a starting pitcher, it's hard to not pick Nolan Ryan. As you said, he was on a lot of bad teams which kept his winning percentage down. He still managed to get 324 wins and had those 7 no-hitters. The longevity is a plus in his favor.
You mention his 324 wins but not his 292 losses. Christy Mathewson is not losing 292times. Ryan had no-hitters but nothing else. 292 losses. Terrible stat.
It's not even close - hits per 9 innings all time: Nolan didn't play on very good baseball teams and he had control issues (which I reference), this brought his winning percentage down. He was absolutely the most unhittable pitch all time, and he did it for 25 years. Oh and he threw 7 no-hitters, the next highest? Koufax with 4. So he's almost double the next guy. Barbie, go back to playing with Ken, The men are talking here.
Yeah, if you're going to pick a starting pitcher, it's hard to not pick Nolan Ryan. As you said, he was on a lot of bad teams which kept his winning percentage down. He still managed to get 324 wins and had those 7 no-hitters. The longevity is a plus in his favor.
You mention his 324 wins but not his 292 losses. Christy Mathewson is not losing 292times. Ryan had no-hitters but nothing else. 292 losses. Terrible stat.
Good grief, Sally. I mentioned he played on horrible teams. He still had a very good career ERA. The only modern-day pitcher with more wins and a better ERA than Ryan (who wasn't a cheater) is Greg Maddux. Ryan had a better ERA than Steve Carlton. On a good team, he would have rivaled Maddux in wins and percentage.
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